JIM BRATTON, in memoriam.

Описание: Our friend James Mosby Bratton, a much-beloved member and past President of the Reed Organ Society, passed away January 9, 2017 in Denver, three days short of his eighty-eighth birthday.

Jim studied music, piano and organ performance at Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, then served his country from 1952-1954 as an Army Chapel Organist for Fitzsimons Army Base. He furthered his education at the University of Denver and the University of Colorado, Boulder, earning his BA, MA and PhD. He taught and performed at DU and the Lamont School of Music for 32 years, and during that time served as the head of the Church and Organ Study Department. Jim performed nationally and internationally, held numerous seminars, played harp, directed choirs and served as organist and choral director for Temple Emmanuel and St. Mark's Episcopal Church. He enjoyed restoring reed organs and built pipe organs in his home. His love of music included organ, piano, harp, choral performance and opera.

Among these wide-ranging musical interests, Jim was a tireless proponent of reed organs in their larger forms: melodeons, chapel organs, Vocalions and harmoniums. I had the honor of purchasing my Mustel harmonium from him in 2008, when we spent two wonderful weekends sharing stories and music together. His was a large musical force, a generous personality, and a wicked wit contained in an aging human body. Bill & I recorded this video footage in October 2011, just after the Reed Organ Society’s gathering in Moline, Illinois; Jim is playing the final trio from Gounod’s opera Faust…from memory. (The instrument is a Moline parlor organ, built in Moline, Illinois c. 1891. The organ stands in the Jenny Lind Chapel, a Swedish Lutheran church in Andover, Illinois.)

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Nelson and Frances Moore (White) Bratton, and his sister, Jean Scott. He is survived by his partner, David Martin Wasserburger and brother, Donald Bratton. We will miss him, but we know that he is accompanying (if not directing) the angel choirs above. May light perpetual shine on Jim Bratton.

Memorial Donations in Jim's name may be made to the Reed Organ Society at www.reedsoc.org.